New York, NY (February 29, 2024) – Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today unveiled details on the panels and general sessions planned for the 2024 Conference & Gala. 

For more than three decades, Committee of 100’s Conference & Gala has drawn hundreds of distinguished academics, policymakers, businesses, and next-generation leaders from across the U.S. for a series of discussions, debates, keynotes and networking sessions under the common goal of advocating for and promoting the full participation of all Chinese Americans in American society.

Experts from the worlds of academics, international affairs, finance, the arts, legal and civil rights are just some of the areas of expertise that will be a part of the 2024 Conference & Gala.  

This year, Committee of 100 is doubling the number of curated sessions with three general sessions and two concurrent tracks – one on U.S.-China related topics and the other on key AAPI issues.  The event will be topped off by a celebratory black-tie Gala.

The current agenda with speakers can be seen here. 

Registration for the 2024 Conference & Gala is now available here.

Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting sponsorship@committee100.org.

Accredited media interested in attending can reach out to media@committee100.org.

Conference: Morning Sessions

7:30 AM Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM Welcome Remarks

8:45 AM General Session: Debate – Will and Should Corporate DEI Activities Suffer the Same Fate as Affirmative Action? The future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the corporate sector, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in the SFFA v. Harvard case, is at a critical juncture. In this three-way debate, featuring a panel of experts, each debater will take a different position relative to the question: no, corporate DEI will survive intact; yes, it will be greatly diminished; and it depends on key future developments.

9:30 AM Asian American Issues Track: U.S. National Defense Policies — Impact on Asian Americans and U.S. Competitiveness. In recent decades, the U.S. has encountered increasingly stiff economic competition from China. Historically, the U.S. has maintained its competitive advantage, primarily due to its leadership in technology-intensive industries. With competition drawing closer, the U.S. has responded with a series of policies and initiatives aimed at safeguarding its interests. This panel will examine how these efforts are contributing to the advancement of U.S. competitiveness.

9:30 AM U.S. China Issues Track: Diplomacy Through Food and Culture. Amidst escalating tensions between U.S. and Chinese governments, the role of people-to-people interactions has been and will continue to be crucial in bridging divides. This panel will explore the role food, the arts and culture play an important role in fostering mutual understanding and respect across borders.

10:30 AM Asian American Issues Track: AAPI Community Response to Anti-Asian Hostility. Negative sentiment towards China has reached a critical high, with more than 80% of U.S. adults holding unfavorable views of the nation, according to a study by Pew Research. This negative attitude is exacerbated by the persistent portrayal of China as the most significant threat to the U.S. by select politicians and media. In this panel, community leaders will share their experiences, discuss actionable steps that the AAPI community and its allies have taken, and explore future strategies to confront these xenophobic challenges.

10:30 AM U.S. China Issues Track: U.S.-China Tech and Industrial Rivalry. As China has risen to be an increasingly successful economy and has expanded into higher technology industries such as computer chips, electric vehicles and batteries, AI, drug development, and advanced manufacturing, the competitive rivalry between the U.S. and China has escalated. This panel of experts from a number of high-profile industries will discuss the current state of competition, the actions taken by both governments to promote the success of their domestic companies, and what the future holds for the relative such of the two countries in these key technology areas.

11:30 AM Asian American Issues Track: Asian American Career Ceilings — Findings and Solutions. Asian American professionals face multifaceted challenges and barriers that hamper their career advancement, across a broad spectrum of professions in the U.S. The panel will talk about the specific challenges to career advancement, drawing upon insights from research and real-world experiences, and delve into effective strategies and solutions for overcoming these barriers, with the goal to improve the career advancement of members of the AAPI community and ensuring their talents and achievements are fully recognized and rewarded. 

11:30 AM U.S. China Issues Track: Foreign Direct Investment — Both Ways — What is Happening and Why? In a world where economic landscapes are constantly shifting, foreign direct investment (FDI) stands as a pivotal element of international economic relations between the world’s two largest economies – the U.S. and China. After many years of heavy flows of capital into China from the U.S. and some capital flows from China into the U.S., the flows have dropped dramatically. The panelists will provide the audience with perspectives on the history of FDI between the two countries, what has been happening recently and what the competing factors will be that will drive FDI flows between the two countries in the future.

Conference: Afternoon Sessions

12:30 PM Networking Lunch: The 2024 Elections and Their Impact on Asian Americans. Asian Americans, as one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the U.S., are becoming increasingly influential in shaping the nation’s political scene. This panel will identify key issues that will be of critical importance to the Asian American community in this current election cycle and examine how the political parties are responding to those very issues.

1:30 PM Asian American Issues Track: The Impact of U.S.-China Tensions on Asian Americans in Government. In an environment where U.S.-China geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, Asian Americans serving in the federal government often find themselves unfairly treated when it comes to postings and assignments. The panel will explore the nuanced potential barriers to career advancement that spin from the tensions with China, the complexities of obtaining security clearances and the uncomfortable scrutiny regarding loyalty that Asian Americans endure due to concerns over foreign influence.

1:30 PM U.S. China Issues Track: Will the Chinese Economy Stagnate Like Japan Has? China is going through a difficult economic period currently with slower growth, high levels of government and corporate debt, a shrinking population, a real estate crisis, weak consumer spending and deflation. These characteristics are reminiscent of what happened with the Japanese economy years ago. This panel of leading experts will take the audience through their assessment of the Chinese economy and the extent to which they feel that the Chinese economy will or will not suffer the experience that Japan experienced.

2:30 PM Asian American Issues Track: Asian American Awareness Through Education. Education can play a vital role in promoting Asian American understanding and inclusivity among students and the general population. The panelists will delve into topics such as the importance of incorporating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in school curricula, the development and distribution of comprehensive AAPI educational materials and the impact of state actions to mandate Asian American history education across the United States.

2:30 PM U.S. China Issues Track: Perspectives on China by Former U.S. Ambassadors. The U.S.-China relationship is characterized not only by political milestones but also by profound connections among the people of both nations. Since 1979, only thirteen diplomats have held the crucial role of U.S. Ambassadors to China, each contributing their unique skillsets to strengthening the bond between the two cultures. This fireside chat panel will feature former U.S. Ambassadors to China who will share their perspectives on the state of the U.S. China relationship, their own experiences, and what they think the future will bring.

3:30 PM General Session: Charting New Paths – Innovative Solutions to Asian American Issues and Closing Remarks. This panel comprises a fresh look at ongoing issues from the perspective of Committee of 100’s Next Generation Leaders. What new and innovative solutions exist to help achieve the goal of a brighter future for Chinese Americans? How can these solutions be executed and implemented effectively to create positive change?

4:15 PM End of Conference

Gala

6:00 PM Networking Reception

7:00 PM Gala Dinner

9:30 PM End of Gala

About Committee of 100

Committee of 100 is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For more than 30 years, Committee of 100 has served as a preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org/ or follow Committee of 100 on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook for more information.

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Contacts:

Charles Zinkowski

Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

czinkowski@committee100.org

Sam Jones

PR & Social Media Manager

sjones@committee100.org